TCM Remembers 2015.

Christmas Eve 2015. The Ircink's of Waterford, WI!

Merrie Christmas! Love, joy & God's Blessings.

2015 Christmas card.

Merrie Christmas to you all!
Peace & God's blessings!

*original photography by Jeffrey James Ircink. words by Henry David Thoreau

Christmasy Glen Mar.

2015 Christmas tree. "Maureen!"

Standing at a cool 7 feet, this little lady (also known as Abies balsamea) is a favorite amongst Christmas trees. When she isn't just hanging around, she loves to donate her scent to air fresheners and incense, provide traditional remedies for colds and scurvy, and loves to participate in fir waves. All the way from Crivitz, Wisconsin...give a warm welcome to this one-of-a-kind balsam fir - "Maureen!"

I was told of one tradition of naming your Christmas tree after a favorite celebrity who passed away that year. I chose Maureen O'Hara.

Brett Favre official number retirement. Lambeau. 11/26/15.

"Here come I to my own again,

Fed, forgiven and know again,

Claimed by bone of my bone again,

And cheered by flesh of my flesh..."

- from Rudyard Kipling's "The Prodigal Son"

Brett Favre. Lambeau. Official number retirement/ring of honor ceremony. Halftime. Green Bay versus Chicago. November 26, 2015. Thanksgiving.

Following our Thanksgiving dinner, I watched the game and ceremony with my family - as we've always done. 'Cause we've always been thankful for The Gunslinger - The Iron Man...Number 4.

Favre selfie - morning of the ceremony in Green Bay.

Legendary Green Bay Hall of Famer/NFL Hall of Famer, QB Bart Starr, was on hand to help celebrate Favre's number retirement.

One of my favorite Favre pictures. Illustrates everything that made him the player he was.

Another SI cover to commemorate Favre's return to Lambeau in July 2015.

First Snow.

November 21, 2015.

I've been keeping track of Wisconsin's first snows since I began blogging. If I could kill snow I would.

12/19/09 (big snowfall)
12/14/10 (first snowfall)
skipped 2011
12/18/12 (first snow)
12/8/13 (can't remember - first snow or big snowfall)

"Anthophilatinction"

"Anthophilatinction"

by Jeffrey James Ircink

Bumble bees and mason bees and ground bees three,

Yellow jackets, paper wasps and hornets after me.

Big bees, little bees

Busy bees that swarm.

Pollinating here and there, ‘specially when it’s warm.

Bees in your bonnet

And bees in your knees.

Buzzin’ in the flowers 

And buzzin’ in the trees.

Workers and drones and queens, oh my!

A sting in your finger is better than your eye!

Making sweet honey deep in their bee hives,

That’s all they do with the short, hectic lives.

Apathy is pleasant when it doesn’t bother you,

But when the bees have died away – you’ll be dead too.

photo by Jeffrey James Ircink 2015

Happy Birthday, Dee Dee!

Happy Birthday, Mom! As fiesty at 72 as she was at 18, Dolores or "Dee Dee" is always to be reckoned with. Course - isn't that true with most mothers? Thanks, mom, for my love of antiques & rummaging & pickin' & gardening (dad, too) & decorating & for my all-around extroverted personality. We love you dearly...Jeff, Jason, Dad, Molly, Zol & Neeley.

Berry time @ Glen Mar!

It's berry time! 2nd batch of black raspberries. Batch #1 was on 7/4. The larger berries are as big as a nickel.

Happy 78th, Dad!

Where do the years go, Jimmy? Happy days to my father...the one & only.

Molly.

We lost Molly this morning...

Brother Jas' first American water spaniel passed away this morning after having been diagnosed with lymphoma about a year ago. In just three days it'll be one month to the year when we lost Molly's younger sister, Zol. Two pups in one year - that's tough any way you look at it. I'm guessing but I think Molly was 12 1/2 and Zol was 2 years younger. You hardly see the symptoms of lymphoma in dogs until the end - Molly was active and eating on Sunday when I last saw her (as if there was nothing wrong) and then this shit.

Brother Jas is handling it a tad better because he knew it was coming sooner than later, but it's still rough on him. In the pictures, Molly's the bigger of the two. What a wonderful dog - my family loved her so much. Jas - his girls all these years...both gone. So sad. So sad indeed. and I'm very sad for Molly and my brother.

Click on READ MORE! to see more pictures of this beautiful baby...

Happy Anniversary, Jim & Dee Dee!

Mom & Dad celebrate 52 years together today. Happy days to my wonderful parents.

2nd Lt. Jacob Kazar! Huzzah!

(left to right:  Jacob K, me and Joseph K. 2007)

Dear Jacob,

Congratulations on your recent graduation from the Air Force Academy!

I remember when you made your decision to attend the academy.

I remember how difficult it was adjusting to the regimen that is the AFA and how over the last four years you rose to the challenges that were presented to you.

I remember when you were a baby, a young boy and a teen and I remember hearing all the stories of you growing up and seeing the gleam in your parents' eyes whenever they mentioned their children. How fortunate I have been to be able to peek into your family's life, watching the four of you grow together.

I remember thinking many times, "What great kids those Kazar boys are."

2nd Lt. Jacob Kazar – I am proud of what you've accomplished and excited for you to begin this new journey. I'm fortunate to know a few academy graduates from other branches of the military…what you've accomplished is quite the feat. Moments in life are fleeting – it really is all about "the journey". Enjoy this journey. I do not share this sentiment lightly – but, you know, if I had had a son, I would be perfectly content if he were just like you. I wish you God's speed while in the service of our country.

Most of all though, remember…that I wish you love.

"Aim High" — "Fly-Fight-Win."
Love,
Uncle Irc

"Ashes of Soldiers".

"Sweet are the blooming cheeks of the living!
sweet are the musical voices sounding!
But sweet, ah sweet, are the dead with their silent eyes."

- excerpt from Walt Whitman's "Ashes of Soldiers"

To those who served and died - on this Memorial Day.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

I was at mom & dad's today but this was from last year. The beard is no more.

Earth Day 2015

" A thing is right when it tends to preserve the
integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic
community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."

- Aldo Leopold, author, scientist, forester, ecologist, conservationist and environmentalist. Born in Iowa, he spend most of his life in Wisconsin.

recycle. conserve. don't litter, take a walk or

hike. swim in the ocean. enjoy the outdoors. turn

the lights off. plant a tree. or a vegetable garden.

or a flower garden. carpool. start a compost pile.

buy local. go "green". tell the kids to get off the

internet/stop watching so much TV and get off their

asses. reduce water consumption. check your tire

pressure. drive slower. go camping and sleep out

under the stars. go with compact fluorescent bulbs.

stop taking up space. do something.

Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin senator and governor. This video was shot in Avoca, WI 2015.